Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-03-03
IN THE MIDDLE WEST
a Story of Life in the Great
Mississippi Valley.
BY ALvA MILTON KERR.
lCorrRfoHT, issa NJ rHE A. N. KErIoco
NEWSPAPER CoNPANY.1
cHApTEn xvIL-coxrrNurn.

N-NcfAfER OOMPANN.l
CHAPTER XvIL-CoxrrNuEn
Joel Whitney. on the other hand,
had always held that to acquire even a
thousand times more than he could
ever personally use, fencing vast
quantities away from his needy fellows,
drawing with his finger about large
parts OF natures common gift the
flaming sacred circle of ownership.
and making it forbidden ground for
common feet and milestone about
hts own neck. was a thing to invite the
energies Of manhood and fulfill the OBJ
Jcct OF creation. II is a curious world,
and perhaps he had encompassed the
truth, or at least, the seemingly nat
ural outcome of our condition, and
perhaps he had put his arms about a
shadow, or even an able-bodied lie.
At any rate. his big house was fin
ished, his head was bald and gray, and
he had deal of property, but his un-
happy eye often dwelt longingly upon
picture of a big-domed building, that
ornamenJed the corner of n map upon
his inner Office wall, with something
of the expression that one might have
who looked upon the gates Of Paradise.
He often caught himself wondering in
what bright particular part of that
stupendous pile the halls of Congress
lay, and once he called the still book
keeper, and under cover Of an inquiry
as 70 the Capitol buildings dimensions,
asked him in Which wing of the edifice
our great Assembly sat. The still
book-keeper snapped one OF his black
eyes at the columns of figures he re-
turned TO, after satisfying Joel, and
the corners OF his thin mouth twitched.
Joel thereafter seldom entered his
inner Office without dropping his
eye caressingly against the pict-
nre upon the map. Sometimes,
too, he would stand before it when
alone and try 10 fancy n time when no
should ascend the great marble flight
Of steps into the great structure with
the great MEN OF the Nation. and
again, when closeted with a politician.
he would sometimes cast his eve up at
the picture and forget their planning
for moment as he felt himself in
fancy coming down the massive steps
with some great man on his arm. But
he astutely said nothing touching this;
he was always helping others; guiding.
directing, advising. providing, shaping.
serving and protesting against receiv-
ing. any thing in return beyond good
viii and fellowship. Indeed, he was
very generous there, Enthusiastically a
good fellow. Then he went 10 church
oitener than in other years. and, per-
haps, little oftener touched hurried
glass against some other in the LIQUOR
ing halls Of Openstone.
Now Harry was coming home from
college, and that event, coupled with
the completion of the big Whitney
house, was 10 be hit OF in crushing
ocial event 1t would not be truthful
10 pretend that Joel suggested 10 Mrs.
Whitney the making OF big party
purely for display or entertainment or
an Offering 10 society; for, while he Sc
cretly gloated at having his large pos
sessions stuck well into the worlds
eye, he yet had Kind Of horror Of the
light and hhery and pcrfumery Of an
evenings social show. II was so per
sonal. so open, so near upon one, that
out OF necessity nothing could be said
In earnest; n sort of meaningless play
ing OF tag with the tongue In the midst
Of display and inspection. He some
how never liked IL. But in this case il
seemed fitting; besides and with Joel
II was the main incentiye-if the polit-
ical map of the district was ere long
changed, with himself stack solidly I'M
ts center like golden pin, some lit
tie social illumination about his person
might hasten the wandering moth of
fortune, or would at least assist the
eyesight Of his fellows. TO this end
he wished that the selection of their
guests might be very impartial. |
leaving no strata Of respectable |
Openstone unrepresented. But here
no collided violently with Mrs. Whit |
ney's desires, for Mrs. Whitney cared |
very much indeed who were and who |
were not Invited, while Joel cared only |
that the selection comprised every |
body, or at least as much OF every |
body as the house would hold. In the |
end he had his way. but with the pro- |
vision that the first party being zen |
ernl In is compass, should be followed |
Dy Mrs, whitney giving other parties |
~ sho chose, and Of quite as eleeanilv |
swollen a character as she desired |
Mrs. whitney insisted that the finer I
portion at least OF the furniture should
b. purchased in Chicago, but Joel, with
an eye on me political ornament, |
Fiscly insisted on buying every thing |
10 Openstone. Ia this he had his way,
~ he did Ia most things touching this
dngle secret ambition OF his. but IN
lol mech olse. For Mrs. Whitney. as
|er eyes aud nose Indicated. was we'll
llgh infinitely fertile IN ways for the
'lehslnE OF her own heart and usually
l'ocee'led Ia tlring the pondcrous Joel
nlo aoQulcsconce.
A length tho day dawned "a pleas
IA one IA September which should
f|ng Harg, NhINnsy vIih \ from sAs !